The Big Read
Claudia Rankine's Citizen: An American Lyric
March 20 Launch, Painting Workshop
Atrium, Downtown
Tuesday, March 20, 3:30-5pm & 6-7:30pm
Join us as we kick off our celebration of Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric, Hartford Public Library’s choice as “The Big Read” for 2018, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Artist Zulynette Morales is holding two painting workshops in the Downtown Atrium from 3:30 to 5 pm and 6-7:30 pm. All materials will be provide. Artwork will be on display in the library through April 26.
Registration is required. Register in advance with Sarah Pelletier at 860-695-6377 or spelletier@hplct.org
All branches will have large foam boards with quotes from the book. Participants can share their reactions and thoughts on the boards.
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The Big Read Poetry Workshops
YOUmedia, Downtown
Albany, 1250 Albany Avenue
Poets Britanna "Versatile Poetia" Tatum, Zulynettet Morales, and Khaiim "Self Suffice" Kelly (pictured), are running writing workshops for teens, inspired by the themes in Citizen: An American Lyric. Young poets, ages 13-19, are invited to participate and enter their poems, lyrics, essays or prose based on their experiences with microagression. Some will be chosen to present in front of author Claudia Rankine at the keynote ceremony in April 26.
Workshop schedule: YOUmedia on March 6, 6-7:30 pm, March 14, 5-6:30 pm, and March 22, 6:30 to 8 pm. Albany, March 27, April 3, April 10, 4-5:30 pm.
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The Big Read Dance Workshops
Arien Wilkerson, Tnmot Aztro
11 am-1 pm, March 24, April 7, 14, 21
Tainted Studios, 56 Arbor Street
Arien Wilkerson, who leads Tnmot Aztro Performance Art and Dance Installation, is holding four Saturday dance workshops inspired by the themes of Citizen: An American Lyric. Those completing the four sessions will be invited to perform on April 26 at the keynote ceremonies. Tnmot Aztro will create the visual landscape of the performance set, sounds, props, sculptures, audience seating, technical runs, and lighting with help of David Borawski and Rickey Silverspoon. Original films and artwork will be on display.
Register here
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Weekly Book Discussion for Teens
YOUmedia Downtown
Every Thursday at 4pm
Join us every Thursday at 4pm in YOUmedia to read passages from Citizen. Share your experiences and reaction to the book, in person, and on our "Big Read Bulletin," a large community board where we want to hear from you! Ages13-19.
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Micro-aggressions in the Latino Community
w/ Constanza Segovia
Park Branch
Monday March 26, 6-7:30pm
Community conversation on micro-aggressions in the Latino community focusing on excerpts from Citizen, including a community art piece.
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Poets on Poetry: Claudia Rankine
Classroom 139, Downtown
Saturday, March 31, 10:15am-12:15pm
Poet Kate Rushin will lead the discussion of the Yale professor's book which is written in prose, poems and essays. Partnership with the CT Poetry Society.
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Bomba y Plena Film Screening
Park Branch
Monday April 9, 6pm
Learn about the history of "Bomba y Plena" - A Puerto Rican dance with African origins, as we learn about the African influence on the Puerto Rican culture. Program presernted in partnership with Cultura Mosaica.
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Poetry Meetup at Albany
Albany Branch, 1250 Albany Ave.
April 10th,17th & 24th 6-7:30 pm
April is Poetry Month! Join us as we share favorite poems and explore the world of poetry. Bring a poem of your choosing or just show up.
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“The Citizen’s Lyric: Race, Class, and Policing”
Film Screening of "13th"
Center for Contemporary Culture, Downtown
Saturday, April 14, 2:00-4:30 pm
In partnership with Hands on Hartford, HPL will screen Ava DuVernay's film "13th" followed by a panel discussion
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Citizen Book Discussion
Campfield Branch, 30 Campfield Avenue
Thursday April 19, 6:30-7:30pm
Join us for a book discussion on Citizen. Share your experiences and reaction to the book, in person, and on our "Big Read Bulletin," a large community board where we want to hear from you!
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Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
Salon on Citizen
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
Thursday April 19, 5:30-7 pm
From Harriet Beecher Stowe to Claudia Rankine writers have called out injustice and inspired action. In Citizen: An American Lyric, Rankine’s subject is race, particularly the racism felt by black people in America. Join the conversation.
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Revolutionary Read
Charter Oak Cultural Center
Thursday April 19, 7-8 pm
The latest installment of a free community reading series, focused on books that spark revolutionary conversations about social justice. Join us in the Charter Oak Sanctuary for an interactive lecture about Citizen: An American Lyric.
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The Big Read: Walk About
Albany Branch, 1250 Albany Ave.
Thursday, April 19, 5:30 pm
Can you tell how someone thinks by looking at the way they walk? Does body language reveal what you think about yourself? Can it tell you something about others? Improvisational movement can give you a glimpse into what it’s like to be someone else’s shoes. Everyone is invited to an action packed, rhythmic, improvisational experience, guaranteed to get you thinking about how movement can bring us to a deeper understanding of our place as Citizens.
Workshop run by Victoria Christgau, pictured, Executive Director of the CT Center for Nonviolence, and Warren Hardy, founder of HYPE.
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Claudine Rankine Keynote Address
Center for Contemporary Culture, Downtown
Thursday, April 26, 5:30-7 pm
Join us for an evening with Claudia Rankine, author of Hartford Public Library’s Big Read book for 2018, Citizen: An American Lyric.
Featuring a Citizen-inspired Dance Installation by Tnmot Aztro Performance Art and Dance Installation LLC led by Arien Wilkerson in collaboration with artists Ricky Silverspoon and David Borawski.
Also featuring winners of the city-wide Citizen Youth Slam Poetry Contest, supported by YOUmedia Hartford and as a culmination of workshops by Brittana VersatilePoetiq Tatum, The RapOet (Self Suffice), Zulynette Morales, and Clementine Gant.
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